This fortnight in Science we have been making it rain with the Foundation students. Students used shaving cream and blue dyed water to demonstrate how clouds hold water and how it rains. We created rainbow skittles with Year 1 and 2 students, exploring how warm weather (sun) and rain can create a rainbow in the sky. Year 3 students have been exploring the power of the sun and how we need to protect ourselves from ultraviolet light. We explored how different materials can help keep our skin safe from UV light using special beads that change colour in UV light.
It has been another jam packed fortnight of Science!
Foundation: We have been exploring the weather and seasons. We have dressed ourselves to match a weather forecast and painted trees to demonstrate how they can each season.
Year 1 and 2: During our Sky and Landscape unit, students have created a model to demonstrate the phases of the moon and even created and named their own constellation!
In Science this week, students have experienced hands on tasks and made connections with their topic of the term. Foundation students used fans to test what blows in the wind! We noticed that heavy items don’t blow in the wind. Grade 1 students made night and day sky sensory bags. It was lots of fun exploring what we see in the sky! Grade 2 students explored the effects of droughts and floods. We tried to make sandcastles with dry sand and then flooded them with water.
Year 3: We have been hands-on in measuring and creating models of the moon and Earth, played an interactive game to explore the rotation of the Earth and used basketballs and tennis balls to demonstrate the orbit of the moon!
Grade 3 students have been exploring the earth's rotation and the sun’s energy. We tested what happens with cups of ice in direct sunlight and in the shade. We then made globes using balloons and demonstrated how the earth rotation causes daylight and sunlight. Students had such interesting questions!
We have started our first science classes with a BANG! The students have been so curious to explore all things science. We are learning how to become scientists by asking questions, making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting an experiment and analysing the results. It has been so much fun to explore the world around us and begin to learn how things work. We can’t wait for more ‘explosions’!
Year 4 students have been exploring and comparing the size of the moon and the Earth. Students were surprised to discover the moon is only a quarter of the size of the Earth. Students created models of the Earth and moon to scale e.g. a 1 cm (diameter) moon is equal to a 4 cm (diameter) Earth.
Science in the senior school has been all about the solar system. Students have been learning the order of the planets from the sun using a funny mnemonic to help them remember the order.
“My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos!’ Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Challenge: Can you create your own mnemonic to remember the order of the planets?
Grade 5 & 6 have enjoyed participating in a 3 week basketball program run by Westgate Basketball. Students have had the opportunity to learn off others in preparation for a Basketball Gala Day Round Robin in Term 4.
Cricket Blast Program The four week cricket Blast Program has come to an end. Students loved participating in the sport with a range of students in different classes.
Grade 3-6 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Students enjoyed participating in their Grade 3-6 Athletics Carnival. Avondale Primary was super proud of all the students and teacher efforts throughout the day.
WESTGATE BASKETBALL PROGRAM
After being successful in gaining a grant for Term 1. We have been able to gain the opportunity to have Westgate Basketball coaches run lessons for 3 weeks with our grade 5 & 6 students in preparation for a Basketball Gala Day held towards the end of the year. We were also able to use the rest of the grant money to cover the cost of a range of equipment including new basketballs for the whole school to use during PE and lunch/recess time.
CRICKET AFTER SCHOOL WORKSHOP
Grade 1-4 students are continuing to enjoy participating in their 4-week afterschool cricket program. Students are looking great in their uniform and enjoying the new experience.
Grade 3-6 students have been preparing for their upcoming Athletics Day Carnival on Thursday 2nd March. Students have had the opportunity to practice all the events involved on the day, preparing them for the best opportunity for success. They are super excited to spend the day away from school, performing alongside students of the same age and participating in a range of events. Grade 5-6 students have started training for their upcoming Summer Gala Day. Students have had the opportunity to participate and learn new skills while playing sports including soccer, cricket and Hot Shot Tennis.
This week Grade 1-4 students have the opportunity to participate in a 4 week after school Cricket Blast Program. All registered students will receive a FREE hat and polo with their name on the back. Students are very excited and I can't wait to share photos in the upcoming weeks.
All students enjoyed the first week of PE refreshing and learning the rules, routines and expectations. Students participated in a range of modified activities and warm up type games. This week Grade 3-6 students have begun practicing for their upcoming Athletics Carnival that will occur on March 2nd Thursday. Grade 3-4 students had the opportunity to listen to Sebastion from Cricket Victoria(pictured) this week regarding an opportunity to participate in an afterschool school program for 4 weeks 3.30-4.30 starting on the 23rd of February. This is a great opportunity for the Grade 3-4 students in preparation for their Cricket Gala Day in Term 4.
This fortnight in Visual Arts, students have been working on their Inquiry themed project. Grade 3 and 4 students have been busy finishing their collages while some grade 3s have painted their fruit or vegetable sculpture. Senior students in grade 5 and 6 continued on their Identity silhouette portraits, sketching images of what makes them who they are. During class discussions, students noticed how everyone has different interests, hobbies, strengths and cultural backgrounds which makes us all unique. Can’t wait to see the final product!
This fortnight in Visual Arts, the grade 3s have been planning and prepping their next project. Using this term Inquiry topic ‘The Game of Life’ as a springboard, we have been looking at healthy food. Students had to choose a fruit or vegetable to create as a 2D or 3D art piece. Here are a few snaps of our progress so far. They are going to look fabulous when they are finished.
This week in Visual Arts the Grade 4s finished working on their warm and cool colour picture. We first sketched a picture and then ruled straight lines through the page. We discussed and listed warm and cool colours. Using the colour wheel helped with some of the difficult shades. Next we shaded the picture in warm or cool colours and used the alternative colour scheme to shade the background. The best part of this project was when we critiqued the artworks. There was such a positive buzz in the room as students discussed the artworks and complemented each other on their pieces. It was so lovely hearing students critique their peers in a respectful and constructive manner.
Last week in Visual Arts, students in middle and senior school brainstormed a series of weekly routines for the Art Room. These routines are based on our school valuesrespect, being a learner and responsibility. Our Routines to Success range from table jobs to keeping our sink clean and tidy. Ms Portelli’s job was really hard because she had to pick the common responses from each grade and make a poster. These posters remind everyone of how to keep our Art Room neat and tidy.
This week the students from Foundation through to grade 2 tapped their way through the Performing Arts school rules with drumsticks, chant and music. What fun we had setting ourselves up for a term of Performing Arts success!
Italian Students in Grade 4 have been learning about countries and the articulation of ethnicities this term. To explore the different cultures within our school, students have drawn their cultural flags where they have introduced their culture and a way of saying hello. This has created a beautiful display for the Italian room and is a reminder of the importance of celebrating all cultures and languages.
Students contributed their drawing skills to assist in developing a bilingual display poster of the Zones of Regulation to which is now displayed in the Italian room for reference.
Students began the first two weeks of Italian and enjoyed class activities and games where they were able to revise their vocabulary whilst getting to know their new classmates. Foundation students launched into the unit of ‘Ecco Pinocchio’ where they will learn about greetings and parts of the body. With the Venice Carnival (Carnevale) approaching, students in grade 2 have begun to create masks, whilst students in grade 3 have been designing puppets of Carnevale characters which they will use to act out a short play in Italian in the spirit of the celebration.
